Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possessing Illegal Firearms and Multiple Machine Gun Conversion Devices
Friday, May 24, 2024
WASHINGTON – Jean-Robert Jean-Baptiste, Jr., 33, a previously convicted felon, was sentenced today to 66 months in prison for illegally possession of a total of four firearms, nine machine gun conversion devices, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and multiple large capacity magazines—followed by, only weeks later, illegally carrying a loaded Glock 9mm firearm that was equipped with a machine gun conversion device and a large-capacity magazine in his Benning Terrace neighborhood in Southeast Washington D.C.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; ATF Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Baptiste pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia on January 3, 2024, to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, and two counts of possession of a machine gun. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan ordered Baptiste to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on October 19, 2022, MPD officers executed a search warrant at Baptist’s residence and recovered numerous firearms and ammunition from his bedroom. MPD officers seized a Micro Draco semiautomatic pistol with drum magazine and four rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition; a 30-round 7.62 caliber magazine; a 60-round 7.62 caliber magazine; a Glock box with .40 caliber Glock 23 pistol loaded with 14 rounds; a Glock box with 10mm Glock 20 pistol loaded with 16 rounds; a 10mm Glock 29 pistol with an obliterated serial number with 14 rounds in a 15-round magazine; hundreds of rounds of ammunition; nine Glock switch machine gun conversion devices; and 16 assorted 9mm, 10mm, .40 caliber, and 7.62 caliber magazines.
Baptiste was arrested on November 26, 2022, after MPD officers patrolling near the 4400 block of F Street SE observed him toss a firearm to the ground. The firearm was a Glock Model 19X 9mm, that was loaded with one round in the chamber and 30 additional rounds of ammunition in a 31-round capacity magazine. In addition, the firearm was equipped with a machine gun conversion device.
During a subsequent search of Baptist’s cell phone recovered at his arrest, the FBI found photographs of numerous firearms and pricing information, firearms with machine gun conversion devices, and screenshots of conversations about Glock switch machine gun conversion devices.
Baptiste previously was convicted of conspiracy and assault with a dangerous weapon in D.C. Superior Court for which he was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment in May 2013.
This case was investigated by the MPD as part of Project Safe Neighborhood and the ATF Washington Field Division.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Long, Allison McGuire, and Thomas Strong.